Ehtdusb-bext carrtkk



' Re; 16,432 F. E. ySMITH Sept. 28 E926.

ENDLESS BELT CARRIER Original Filed May 8, 1922 5 Sheets-Shet Sept; 28, 1926.

' F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER original' Filed May s. 1922 5 Smets-sheet` 5 III/Illia di! i Inventumfew/we EI .5M/TH,

Wmesses.-

ha" im Sept. 2s, 192e.

F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRTVER original Filed May S, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 4 wnesses.-

Sept. 28 1926. y

F. E. sMrrH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER 'Original Filed May e, 1922 5 sheetspsheet 5 UNITEDl STATES `m I. m, 0l' BOOTTDALE, :PENNSYLVANIAn I muss-BILT Cm3.

origini in. immensa My invention relates to the art of endless belt carriers, and refers l"particularly to the 'constructig ofthe roller supports for the t. l, v

Inv this art, it is customary to support the belt by a continuous series'of either or multiple rollers having their axial centen arranged transversely across the carstrand.` vIn the case of single rollers, geuygfare customarily horizontal while some l cr-all of the multiple rllersof each transverse series are usually arranged at vaing inclinations at each side of the lons-1;@ na center ofthe belt, to provide for hing.

'In my invention I have provided means for mounting .the carrying rollers whereby they may -be erected to normal operative more fu su rti it-ion-underneatli the belt or 'vwliiii'gbynogndg' all of the rollers of each, serilmay be lowered for'removal, ad3ustnient or re ir. Also means forroperly v i pa P Xing-X111 of Figure i2;

mounting'` and 'supporting the bearin members for the several cross shafts of t ie rollers, means tending to a minimumof friction, means for lubricating the several bearing membe i and other features hereinafter described.

` The ob acts in view, in addition to those 3 noted, are .to provide a simple, effective, and

economical construction capable of giving the best results in continuous use and: which may be lowered or erected without stoppage of the belt.

Certain preferred embodiments of the 1n- 'vention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view show ing three carrying rollers mounted in their several bearings and'carried by their common tilting shaft.

F gure 2 1s a partial similar view showing' a modified construction of. supporting brackets;

` Figure 4 is an enlar d sectional detailof' rackets for the roller is fa. view of the in 6 is a sectional detailview of one Figure' is a similai-v viewlshowing tive carrying rollers. with a corresponding arment of supports therefor;

one of the supporting Figure 5 ration; Y

, gum

oftlielvalve controlled branch connections of tbelubricating pipe; i i

, and outer bushings 11, A12,'of the vspin respectiizely, as will be readily un'- my e, im, ser-n1 ne. uauriiea muy s, im. animan m num nea apra is, ma semi im. massa.

of thefriction reducing bearings for theroll spindle;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional'view throu h the cross supporting shafts showing tic roller supporting bracket in erected position thereon;

Figure 10 isa similar view showing th'e bracket and roller in lowered position;

Figure 11 is a erspective detail view of o ne of the detac able supporting brackets like that of Figure 5, fromv the rear;

Figure l2 is a longitudinal sectionalviewshowing a further modification utilizing independent or individual brackets for each roll rrespectively, providing for individual ad iistinent of each roller; Y g

ure 13 is a cross-section on the line 'ertsi a,'a, respectively. Euch bracket is provi e A d with a hub 3 embracingv the shaft 2 and secured thereto in fixed alinementby Securing ins or rivets 4, as in i ure 7.

orrics. j

The ro Iers A and B are of we l-known construction, comprising an outer cylindri` cal or tubular shell 5 carried b most flanges or liubs 6 upon sha ts or spin-- dies 7. These, in turn, are rotatably mounted by their terminals 8 in the ball or roller bearing casings 9 (Figure 8) by means'of rolling members, as balls 10, engaginlinner casing derstood. Bushing -ring 11 is,A preferably clamped htly on the coniform terminal 8 of shaft 7 y a nut 13 of its threaded extem sion 14, as shown, so that the shaft audits bulking are free to revolve in transmit moving support to the conveyor belt s?. is Sup-Y y tubular" p main supplyl pipe and the outermost bearing casings The interior of each inner. c pliedwith lubricant, as grease, i; conduigl connected with a the uendeand ies

by grease cups 17, as

ly mounted in end bearingslS, 18,

'open sided bearing' 22, for supporting enagement on such member 20, when the rackets are erected, as in Fi res 9 and 13. In such position, with the lt supported upon the rollers, and running tion indicated by the arrow, the brackets will normally press towards the cross member 20, but :forl positively securin them in lowered position, I `use a removab e pin 23 inserted through registering holes 1n Othe bracket bearing `and cross member. x

The main lubricant supply p1' es.16, usuall;I one for eachset of bearings, lie across the bearing brackets and Iextend towards one side, where each is provided with a closing terminal cap 24, and adapted for connection t with a grease gun or the like. Each main pipe 16 is connected as at 25 'by a suitable union coupling, with a semi-flexible tube 26 having an elastic loop 27 to facilitate communicatng connection by conduit 15 with' ythe bearing. A cock or valve 28 is preferably inserted in the branch' line 26 at any suitable point, as shown, Figure 7, for controllingthe circulation to one or both bearn the construction shown in Figure 1, vthe outermosthubs 3 are provided with upwardly extending brackets 29 having anged attaching faces for bolting theretothe supplemental bearing brackets 30. carrying the outer bearingcasings 9. Brackets 30 are bifurcated at their upper ends, providing ya pair of side cheeks or ears having inwardly open sockets or slots 31 for reception of the lugs or trunnions 32 extending from opposite sides of the bearing casings 9.

Lugs 32 are substantially l.knife-edges at their lower supporting portions for equal balancing, and enter the slots 31'with slight .clearance, as shown.

The sockets or slots 31 have their lower @or bearing faces arranged so that they are in line with the longitudinal axis of the shafts 7, and the lugs or trunnions 32 are positioned on the casings 9 so that their lower or knifeedges are in line with the longitudinal axis of thi shafts 7, and since the knife-edges of the trunnions 32 are positioned or mounted y the outermost supporting mem-A .as shown, whereby inv the direc- 1 ,shovsnv at the left side on the lower or bearing faces vofv the slots 31, the bearing y provide a alanced bearing for the shafts,` which will permit free horizontal movement in a direction parallel 'andtransverse of :the longitudinal axis of the ,shaft and also a rockingv movement without binding the shaft.

The'intermediate hubs 3 also extend upwardly and. are of compoundI construction,

to provide a bearing support for the inner downwardly sloping end of the outer roller spindle, and a separate bearing support for `the end of the middle roll spindle. Tothis end, hub 3 is extended upwardly integrally by extension 3 and is casings 9 are supported solas toA similarly bifurcated and slotted at 31 for y supporting the lugs 32 of the innerbearing casing 9 of theouter roller.

Mounted on the i'nner lside extension3 is a supplemental bracket 33,;.similarlybifurf cated and slotted, and provided with side cheek lugs 34 embracing the-extension 3* engaging lugs orbolt terminals 35. bracket 33 extends downwardly along the -inner face of extension 3*, providing abut-y ting engagement therewith, so as'to lirml support the roller spindle bearing. The 4construction asshown in .Figure 1 provides a similari' bearing'for each end of the roller spindle, of right and left hand form so that the middle horizontal roller is thus carried at its proper level between'the outer upwardly sloping rollers. f

By this arrangement, the entire series o rollers may be tilted backwardly on shaft'2 in receded position *belowl the belt for ad justment, removal. or insertion of any indi- .vidual roller or its bearings without inter# .ference or stoppage of the belt. Thus, either end roller B may be disconnected by removal of bracket-30 and disconnection ofbranch lubricant pipe 26, permitting the lugs 32 of rear bearing casing 9'to be' withdrawn from openings 31. Likewise, by removing one of the brackets 33. the middle roller A may be withdrawn withoutremoving the other bracket, first having disconnected the lubricant pipes as described.

If desired, one of the inner supporting bracket extensions may be made integral, vasl at 3P, with oppositelv extending bifurcated and slotted cheeks `for supporting engagen\ent'with the roller bearing casings. .as

other side. being separable as shown and as just described, provides for separability of either roller brackets.

In Figure 3I-show an .arrangement comprising' five rollers, and their supporting of Figure 2. They 1n lowered position of the brackets. utilizing acombin'ation of the sev'- y eral bearingsjahove described, adapted tothe l increased totni width andvnrying incluation of the several rollers. In such construction, the outermost separable brackets are somewhat higher relatively, the inte al bracket 3" is used between one outer ro ler "l and the next adjacent one,'and compound brackets 3*-33 are used for the other iny supports. In such arrangement, *it is immaterial whether the removable 83 be at one side or the otherof the saimgni hub bracket. n is desirable, howthat a removable bracket be rovided for one end of each roller, so as to acilitate removal and adjustment. Y n Figures 4, 5 and 11, I show a somelifwhat modified construction of compound supporting bracket consisting of a bracket extension 3 upwardly beyond hub 3 upon t 'ch is secured theV removable bracket by e its back 'web 33v lying against the sloping 0 face of the main bracket 3". The latter is reinforced as at 49, and provided with a bolt by which side plates 36, 36, are e'ured'to the sloping back web 37. Yllxe supplemental bracket 33* is slotted' at 25 the bottom for engagement of bolt 38, and

its aide cheeksv 39, 39, are riveted to the side plates 36 as at. 40. As an additional holdconnection, the rear upper portions of plates 36 are hooked` over 'and secured N bly blt as indicated at 41. f

".l'vbearing boss or projection 42 extends rearwardlyfrom bearing casing 9 against a wedgei adjustably inserted between the back and such boss whereby the bearing 'and the roll spindle are maintained outwardly Viu proper-operative position. The

wedge 43 is preferably hooked overl the top edge of backy plate of bracket 33, as at 44,

with sufficiently tight fit to insure against` l0 accidental removal. At the other side, theother bearing casing 9 bears against the -,M r rear toi of the bracket 3 by its boss 42v and eac casing'is supported by its side lugs v 82 in the slotted openings 31 of the respec- -tive` aida cheeks. y-

vIn Figure 7 I show a further modificationin which the hub 3 extends upwardly by l'. middle web member 3 to which are lecured the outer side plates 39* by trans- H verse bolts 35. Such side plates provide f J embracing cheeks for thebearingjcasf y: vand have the slotted openings 3,1 for inceptionnnd support of the lugs 32 thereof. The bearing casings, thus supported,

'-' are also braced against endwise movement by their .projections 42 engaging against A opposite sides of the upper portion of the web 3". l

In Figure 6 -I show a detail of a oontinu- @Il ons line pipe 16* for lubrication, having ibranch pipe extensions 26* a and an interi vening cock or valve 28a with suitable couplings.` By this means, a plurality of bearings 9 may be lubricated from a single pipe and, any particular pair of bearings maybe cutv out and the branch connections ltemporarily removed, if desired. Figures 12, 13 and 14 show a slightly' modified construction utilizing 'individual supporting brackets 45, 46 and 47 extendln 70 u wardly from their respective hubs an oi) right and left hand. form to suit-.their respective locations. Each hub is freely mounted; on rock shaft 2 for rotation. br.'

endwise movement, and normally controlled by bearingmollars 50, each having a tight.-| q ening set-screw, on shaft 20.` By this. arL ranoement, the whole series of rollers may bc thrown back at once, or by removi the screws 23 from any particular pair of ar- 80v ings 22, slich pair of brackets 21 and their. particular roller may be thrown back independently lof .the others, and one of the rackets may be shifted laterally to remove the roller. "f 'By either construction, I am enabled to adjust the roller or rollers upwardl wards and in contact with the belt, or ownv. wardly away therefrom, 'without stoppage or interference. The manner of 'mountingo andsupporting the several brackets insures. rigidity and stability of the roller structure; when erected, and also facilitates the throwfing of these elementsl backwardly' a'ndi downwardly, with a minimum of friction U5 and absence of interference or interruption to the continued operation of the carrier. It will be understood that the bearing 18 for rock shaft 2 is ixedly spacd'from its companion bearing 18 by a connecting 1W base plate 18 bywhich the bearings are frir-= edly -.secured in such relation to the main framing structure 19.

One further 'feature of advantage is in the construction of the rollers A or B.

These are preferably` made of tubular sections of pipe and are turned down around the beveled or rounded edges of the flanges yof hubs 6, as indicated at 48. Such construction insures concentric engagement 110.

and continuous connection. with thei hubs, overcoming any tendency to loosening or f disarrangement. 1

It will be understood that the invention may be variouslyv changed or modified in 11.5 detail construction, or otherwise, by the skilled'mechanic in adapting it to various ffap licatons of use, but that all such are to 4considered as within the scope ofthe following claims.

W'hatl claim is:l 1. Supporting mechanism for a carrying ljbeltconsisting of a rock shaft havingI bearing supports extending upwardly there'` from having bifurcated 'slotted armsand a mi belt engaging roller. carried therebyL 2, Supporting vmechanism for a carrying belt consisting of a rock shaft having freely journaled bearing supports. extending, up-

i'mdly @Nimm and Provided With-roller nl -l supportingbrackets, roller therein and means limit' til movement of the roller brackets on the rock shaft.

3. Sup rting" mechanism for a carrying belt consging of a belt supporti roller,

brackets thereforya4 freel )ourna ed rock shaft for Vtlie brackets, an -means'for brac- -ing the brackets in erected position and providing for backward tilting movementl on the rock shafnt.`

'4. In combination with asupporting i framework,fa transverserock shaft, bearings therefor, brackets freely journaled vonto the rock shaft extending upwardly therefrom and provided with supporting terminals, and a belt carrying roller mounted therein. 1

" '5. In combination with a framework, a transverse rock bearings therefor, brackets freely journaled onto the rock shaft extending upwardly therefrom and provided with :2:11p rtin terminals, shaft casings mount in sai terminals, and aA belt carrying roller having' a -framework, a transversel rock' sha 'ings therefor, brackets securedl to the rock shaft mountedin said'casings.

6.`In combination'- with asuptporting bearshaft extending upwardly' therefrom and provided with supporting terminals, and a. pluralit 'of rollers rotatably mounted in pairs o tions..

7. In combination with a supporting framework and a superimposed carrier belt a transverse rock shaft, lbrackets secured thereon having upwardly extending roller- Abifurcated slotte `10. A combination bracket for belt carrying. rollers consisting of a hub having a ,latf eral' bracing portion, an upwardly extendlmi brackets. 12. In belt supporting construction, al

ing bearing bracket, and an attached opposite] y disposed removable bearing bracket.

11. A combination bracket for belt carrying rollers 'consisting of a hub having a lateral bracing 'ortion, an upwardly extending bearing brac et; an attached oppositely dis.- posed removable bearing bracket, and means or connecting and disconnecting said shaftV havin anged supporting hubs, and

, a tubularro ler having crimped engagement at its .ends inwardly around the outer edges Y scribed.

su porting shat,

saidl brackets at varying inclina- -in line with the longitudinal axis of sai of the hub flanges, substantially as de-r L /13. A bearing for conveyer suppe rollers comprising ajbracket having .slbitg cheeks thereon, a-

.bearing casing EN mounted betweenl said vcheeks, knife-edge" trunnions on said casingengagin in sud slots in said cheeks, said trunnionsgeing po-v sitioned so as to permit movement'longtndichee 14.4 A bearing for conveyer suppe rollers comprising a bracket having slbii" cheeks thereon, a shaft ybearing ca sin y mounted between said cheeks, knife 9 trunnions on saidT casing engaging in said slots in said cheeks, said trunnions 'A positioned so as to permit movement longitudinally and transversely relative t0 said cheeks, a roller shaft received in said and the lower edge of said trunnions in lineAwil; the ceifiter line of said shaft;

15. arin or conve er su rollers compri'sigg a bracketyhavingpm 1y projecting slotted ears thereon,'a shaft bearing casing mounted between the ears, knife-edge trunnions on said casing ing in the slots in said ears, said trunmons being positioned on said casing so as'to 'permit movement longitudinally and; transversely relative to said ears. v 16. A bearing for conveyer sup rollersl comprising a bracket having llteraf ly projecting slotted ears thereon, a shaft bearing casing mounted between'the ears, knife-ed e trunnions on said casing 'engage slots in said ears, said trunnions being positioned on said casing so'l as Vto permit movement longitudinally and trans-V versely relative to said ears, a roller shaftnlg received in said casing, and the lower edge. of said trunnions being in line'witll the center line of sai'd shaft.-

17. .A 'supporting mechanism for a carrying belt, consisting of a su porting structure, bearin .brackets secured) to and extending upwar 1y from said su portin struc-.- ture, said brackets having bifiirca slottedv` irme, shaft-beari casings mounted in said bifurcate'd arms, A-ifo-edge trunnions on"vus said casings engaging in the slots yin said arms, roller shafts mounted in said casings, and the lower edge of said trunnions be' shafts so ns to "provide a balanced mounting for said shafts.

18. A supporting mechanism for a carry-- ing belt, consisting of a su' porting struc-- ture, bearing brackets secured) to and extend-A ing upwardly from said supporting struc-5 ture, said brackets having laterally ing slotted ears thereon, shaft-bearing ings mounted between the ears .on brackets, knife-mig?` trunnions on said cas-'f ings engaging-in t e slots'in said ears, said 13 nallyisand' transversely Vrelative saidx v las" Mm `slid structiire s nd he lis trnnnons bein' of `auch size as to provide clearance in sai slots, roller shafts mounted in said c and the lower of said triinnions being in line the' ongitudinal axis of said shafts so as to provide a balanced mounting forl said shafts.

19. Supportingv mechanism for a ,carrying belt, comprising a su riicture, bearing brackets exten mm un, mounted trnnnions i2link bearing f l porting or conveyer su rollers comprising a bracket'havinl a pair in a .ofatlbearingfacese direction parallell 'th the longitu axis ofthe'rollerto be supported, a shaft bearing 2Q casinknife-edgetninnionsonssidccs'in and su on said bearing faces, sai

trnnnions being positioned so as to permit movement lo tudinall and transversely relative to sai Ibearing A l posite sides carrying bearing 21. A combination b ket for belt carrying rollers vconsisting of a hub, an u wardly extending bearing bracket having bi iii-cated slotted arms extending from opposite sides thereof. 22. In a supporting mechanism for a carrying belt, a supporting structure, a bearing bracket extendin 'upwardly from said structure, and sai bifurcatod slotted armsextending from opthereof. 23. In a supporting mechanism for a belt, a suporting structure, a bracket exten ing uilwardly from said structure, said bracket aving bifurcsted'slotted arms extending from opposite sides thereof, and shaft bearings mounted in said arms and' movable relative thereto, said having knife-edge trunnions engedin. e slots in said arms.'

-testimony whereof, I have signed my name.

bracket having hereunto 45 FRANK siiii'rii.` 

